Reading in the Shadowshttps://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com
A blog for the creepy side of all of usThu, 22 Feb 2018 03:56:37 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/4870db095cba5437c80d8900e882e8dd?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngReading in the Shadowshttps://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com
Weird Video of the Weekhttps://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/weird-video-of-the-week-69/
https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/weird-video-of-the-week-69/#respondFri, 03 Apr 2015 15:00:08 +0000http://readingintheshadows.com/?p=1243This week’s visual sampling is a very disturbing music video from Daft Punk. ‘Get Lucky’ this is not! Have a great weekend.

]]>https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/weird-video-of-the-week-69/feed/0stephanieselbyThe Makings of a Mortician?https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/the-makings-of-a-mortician/
https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/the-makings-of-a-mortician/#respondTue, 31 Mar 2015 15:00:31 +0000http://readingintheshadows.com/?p=1237So posts are finally starting to pick up! This is the first proper one in quite some time. I hope I can keep this up.

It’s this stint I’m doing for Americorp that has kept me away; basically I’m tutoring kids with their reading skills. It’s nice to finally have a more long-term job that will help with paying off some of my student loans, but it’s very time consuming. Seems the difficulty of working over forty hours a week, plus having a social life, plus swimming on a regular basis has seriously cut into my ability to write. When I manage to have some free time I find myself taking a nap instead of doing something useful.

It’s not as bad as it sounds at all! I’ve learned a few things about myself volunteering with children. Mostly that I like kids. When I first started I was really worried I would discover that I was the kind of person that don’t enjoy their company. While they can be overwhelming at times and not everyone’s cut out for it, I found I can take it in stride. I especially enjoy the kindergarteners. Their energy can be difficult to contend with, but have got to be the funniest kids in the whole darn school.

For some time I was thinking about becoming a teacher. The kids are great, you get a lot of time off, and even though the pay isn’t great I’m not looking to get rich anyway. On the other hand there’s the parents, the administration, evaluations, state-run testing… Those parts of teaching are not so fun.

The truth is in order to be a good teacher and deal with all the nonsense, you really have to be dedicated to the job. As a writer who’s looking for a fulfilling day job in case things don’t work out, it didn’t sound like the profession for me. I know I’ll be happy to raise up some kids of my own someday, but the drive to teach kids isn’t high on my list of passions. At least not as high as a teacher’s should be.

So what are my aspirations? Writing’s the main goal, but what if I never become the next Stephen King or Neil Gaiman? What will I do then? I believe I may have stumbled across the answer. Considering my interests it’s weird why I haven’t considered it sooner.

Not too long ago a Reddit user studying to become a mortician posted an AMA on /r/creepy. I was intrigued by the user’s answers and delved further by looking into a YouTube channel they recommended. From there I became acquainted with Caitlin Doughty and her Ask a Mortician series. I binge-watched her videos and picked up her book Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory (I may write more about it if the fancy strikes me). Suffice to say working with the dead sound like a fascinating and fulfilling career choice!

So the plan is to save some cash while I’m volunteering with Americorp, then find a job in the funeral industry that doesn’t require a license. Perhaps transporting bodies or operating a cremation oven like Doughty herself. After some time I’ll likely figure out if the profession is right for me and if so, try to get into a school with a mortuary science program. I fully intend to continue writing throughout this process and I’ll keep you up to date with my thoughts on the matter. Here’s to a new journey!

]]>https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/the-makings-of-a-mortician/feed/0stephanieselbyMorticianWeird Video of the Weekhttps://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/weird-video-of-the-week-68/
https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/weird-video-of-the-week-68/#respondSat, 21 Mar 2015 03:44:12 +0000http://readingintheshadows.com/?p=1235It’s been damn near two months since I posted anything! Where the hell have I been? Getting caught up in work and personal activities, so at least drama is not the cause. I’ve been swimming a lot and losing weight lately so that’s a plus, but I know I need to refocus myself and realize what’s really important. Scaring the crap out of people!

I know, I deserve to burn in the deepest pits of internet hell for this period of absence, but allow me to beg forgiveness and see if I can muster up a better work ethic. Fingers crossed…

In any case here’s a piece offering for now. Trust me, you will need your choice of alcoholic beverage afterwards.

]]>https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/weird-video-of-the-week-68/feed/0stephanieselbyWeird Video of the Weekhttps://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/weird-video-of-the-week-67/
https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/weird-video-of-the-week-67/#respondFri, 06 Feb 2015 15:00:09 +0000http://readingintheshadows.com/?p=1233I must apologize for the unfinished posts that went up this week. It’s been pretty busy for me and I let my duties with this blog slide much more than I should have. I’ll be more careful in the future and I’ll be sure to make it up to you.

This week’s video is a look into how the human body decomposes! PLEASE do not watch this if you are especially squeamish or while you are eating. I won’t be held liable if you vomit on your computer. Forensics

I’m really starting to wonder if Scott Cawthon ever sleeps. I just talked about this game last week and here we are at it again. The original game was released in July, the second came in November, and now we have a trailer for the third! Seriously, this guy must program like a machine.

Thankfully, this new trailer does have some intriguing hints at what is to come. I especially find the text the most pertinent part.

He will come backHe always doesWe have a place for him

I believe that these are the words of the animations themselves as an image of Bonnie, Freddy, and Chica are followed by the final line; not to mention that ‘we’ likely refers to the trio. They expect the child murder mentioned in the previous games to return to them, possibly to commit similar crimes. However, they are now prepared to take their revenge when he comes. Just what that would be or how that would apply to the new game protagonist still remains unclear. The next protagonist could be the murderer himself, but it’s also just as possible a new character could be introduced.

There are also several visual details to take note. This time the condition of the diner is decrepit, with peeling paint and what looks to be old wires hanging from the ceiling. It’s for this reason that I think the next game will be set much later than the previous games. The location looks a lot like the one from FNAF 1, but it could also take place in the original Fazbear Diner.

For this reason I wonder about the next game’s protagonist. Perhaps they will be a security guard of a different sort. Instead of the nighttime security of a seemingly friendly family restaurant, he or she will be looking after what’s essentially an abandoned building. Perhaps to protect it from squatters or find out what could be behind any possible disturbances.

Alongside the classic animatronics is a whole new beast that gives an updated meaning to the term nightmare fuel. This animatronic rabbit is in some ways similar to Bonnie, but has a sickly yellow color and is horribly beat up and scarred. I could be wrong, this could be an aged version of a Golden Bonnie, but my instincts tell me otherwise.

I’ve also heard of speculation that the place is now a horror attraction inspired by the restaurant’s history. I’m not sure if there’s any concrete evidence behind that theory though.

Only time will tell for sure. Considering Cawthon it won’t take too long!

]]>https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/28/five-nights-at-freddys-3-trailer-analysis/feed/0stephanieselbyWeird Video of the Weekhttps://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/weird-video-of-the-week-66/
https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/weird-video-of-the-week-66/#respondFri, 23 Jan 2015 15:00:10 +0000http://readingintheshadows.com/?p=1206This week’s video is a mysterious tale of puzzles, treasure, and an unsolved murder created and told through the internet. Enjoy!

Wow, this Scott Cawthon guy is really churning these games out isn’t he? I have to admit I’m quite impressed! I hope he isn’t working himself to death…

So I’m sure the entire internet is wracking its brain trying to figure out what FNAF 3 will have in store. Will it be another prequel like FNAF 2 was? And yes, there are quite a few people out there who believe FNAF 2 is in fact a prequel. Frankly I have to agree with them.

Scott’s image suggests that this new game may take place sometime after FNAF 2, as parts from the ‘toy’ characters and balloon boy are shown. However, the games have only hinted at three different locations, which would suggest that part 3’s location is going to the first Fazbear restaurant, as the other two have already been featured.

While the first FNAF was a great way to establish the initial tale, the second game takes the mystery much further by going back to the murders of the five children and the Bite of ’87. There is also the inclusion of the death mini-games, which tell the story in the perspective of the animatronics. Going further back to the first restaurant would be a natural progression of the story. It definitely would be an unique way to tell it if Scott chooses to continue this way; slowly going further and further back until the true origins of the horrifying anamatronics are revealed to us, probably learning tons of little secrets along the way.

So far things are definitely up in the air for what we can expect from FNAF 3, but judging from the last two I think we can all be assured that the experience will be quite enjoyable. One thing is certain though: we’re all going to be fucking terrified!

I would also like to note that I only have the first FNAF as of this post. I’m terrible at it, so I haven’t finished playing yet. I may post about my play-through or I may not, I’m not sure. If you do want me to write about it all you need to do is ask.

]]>https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/20/five-nights-at-freddys-3-speculation/feed/1stephanieselbywhatcanweuseWeird Video of the Weekhttps://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/weird-video-of-the-week-65/
https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/weird-video-of-the-week-65/#respondFri, 16 Jan 2015 15:00:18 +0000http://readingintheshadows.com/?p=1202Sometimes dreams turn to nightmares, as shown in this week’s weird video. Have a great three day weekend!

]]>https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/weird-video-of-the-week-65/feed/0stephanieselbyJeff the Killer Reboot Part 4https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/jeff-the-killer-reboot-part-4/
https://readingintheshadows.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/jeff-the-killer-reboot-part-4/#commentsFri, 16 Jan 2015 03:00:46 +0000http://readingintheshadows.com/?p=1168A long time coming! I know, I’m such a slow writer! Read parts 1, 2, and 3 if you haven’t already.

Jeff and Liu waited at the bus stop with the exact same enthusiasm as criminals being carted off to the county jail. The sky above was a pale grey, and a sharp chill was in the air, reminding them that autumn was truly on its way. Liu sat on the curb while Jeff, thinking it too cold to sit on the concrete, choose to lean on the pole of the bus sign.

Drowsy, Jeff could feel himself nodding off in his boredom. Just another day in his insufferable life. So often he felt like this was the default emotion, every moment was some state of boredom that enveloped him like a cloud of smoke. And yet…

Suddenly, Jeff snapped his eyes open. The sound of something rolling was sudden, and shook him from his melancholy.

The source of it was soon realized, as a young skateboarder zoomed by and jumped directly over Liu’s lap. Liu must have had only a fraction of a second to lean back and prevent his face from colliding with the board.

“Shit!” Liu yelled, springing to his feet.

The skateboarder spun himself around, stopped, and kicked his board up. He seemed to take stock of Jeff and Liu with a look of satisfaction.

“Looks like we’ve got ourselves some new sheep for the slaughter!” he said with unnerving cheer.

Jeff had made no real move at this point, but he could now observe his brother’s offender. With blonde, spiky hair the boy looked slightly younger than himself, wearing a bright orange hoodie with blue denim skater shorts. His face held a smug, shit-eating grin that didn’t quite fit with one so young. Jeff couldn’t help thinking that he looked far too much like Bart Simpson.

“What the hell is your problem?” Liu asked.

“Seeing as you two are new here, there are a few things you need to know,” the boy said. “My name is Randy Sutherland, the baddest motherfucker in this town! I call the shots, and there’s a little toll for taking the bus in this neighborhood. Pay up or you’ll regret it.”

Unimpressed, Liu rolled his eyes. “Dude, fuck off. Do you seriously think your little bad boy routine is supposed to scare us? You look like you just stopped pissing the bed last week! What are you gonna do? Give us a wedgie?”

Rustling came from some nearby bushes, and two much larger boys slipped out to join him. The first had a slim build, a horrid case of acne, and had a dopey, drugged look on his face. The other was a pure behemoth of blubber, with an ugly scrunched face that probably made him look angry all the time. Both looked a year or two older than Randy, which left Jeff wondering how he managed to gain so much control over them.

“These are my associates: Keith and Troy. You choose the hard way, and they’ll wipe the floor with your bloody asshole. So what’s it gonna be? Payment or the cemetery?”

Liu and Jeff glanced at each other. There was no question. It was all they needed know they would take these losers on.

You likely have never heard of Rusty Fingers, and that’s a good thing because it is a pretty bad pasta. CreepsMcPasta’s narration makes the tale bearable, but only just. I think the reason he did was because it takes place in the UK and there’s not many pastas that are set in his neck of the woods. In my opinion, he should have kept looking.

The basic writing is very annoying, especially in the beginning where some words are repetitive and details are scant. No idea who these people are really, the how close they might be as brothers, what they’ve been doing on their trip or why they even choose as their destination. Just that they have a room and have been staying there for awhile. It’s a rather careless way to write both characterization and text.

The only place where the author has any sense of creativity is the physical appearance of the villain and his mutilated, child ‘partner.’ there’s little explanation for why this monster is saving people or why his victims seem to accept this notion so easily. Whatever Rusty Fingers is doing to people’s minds it’s not enough to creep me out.

At the very end the protagonist finds his brother dead. Oh well, I guess. It’s not like the author gives us a good reason to get emotionally invested in him. *yawn*

Rusty Fingers is a great example of a bad pasta. The author had enough determination to churn out a very short story with a strange monster, but there’s clearly very little effort given otherwise.

Does anyone out there have a good story that takes place in the UK? I’d love to see some.